Taylor Half-Century Sets Up Another England Win

England Women went 2-0 up in their five-match Twenty20 International series against West Indies Women with a 28-run win in the second match at Old Trafford.

A fine innings of 53 in 37 balls from Sarah Taylor set England on their way to a score of 150 for three and in reply the West Indies reached 122 for six from their 20 overs.

Danielle Wyatt, Laura Marsh and Arran Brindle all took two wickets apiece as England made it 19 matches unbeaten.

Taylor displayed an array of attacking strokes, including drives over and through the covers, some dismissive pull strokes and flicks over her shoulder as she hit seven fours having come to the crease in the fifth over when Charlotte Edwards (21) was caught by Anisa Mohammed off Shanel Daley.

Laura Marsh made 15 before Daley bowled her to make the score 44 for two but there was to little further joy for the tourists as Taylor and Brindle, whose 42 not out came from 41 deliveries, put on an 80-run partnership for the third wicket.

Taylor was stumped as she charged down the pitch at Shemaine Campbelle, Wyatt finished unbeaten on 11 in as many balls and Daley returned figures of two for 21.

The West Indies made a reasonable start through Juliana Nero (11) and Tremayne Smartt (25) but Wyatt had both dismissed in an excellent spell on her way to figures of two for 25. Laura Marsh then had Daley caught by Holly Colvin for two as she cut a short ball straight to the fielder and one ball later, a piece of magic in the field effectively ended the away side's chances.

Deandra Dottin had made one run when she drove hard at Brindle and just as the ball appeared to be racing towards the boundary, Anya Shrubsole dived and struck out her right hand, holding the ball as she landed to take a wonderful catch.

40 runs were added by captain Merissa Aguilleira (37) and Britney Cooper (20) but the runs never came quickly enough to put England in any serious danger.

Aguilleira became Marsh's second wicket and Cooper was Brindle's second victim and although Stacy-Ann King struck nine in four balls and Campbelle 13 in six, their efforts came far too late.

"We got off to a great start today. I was really pleased to find the boundary early and then ran hard with Arran later on," Taylor said.

"It was another good team performance with everyone contributing and two outstanding catches from Anya and Susie (Rowe); we pride ourselves on our fielding.

"We aim to put a marker out in every single game and we’ll be looking to do that in the remaining three matches of this series. We’ll take momentum from today’s performance with us onto Northampton on Thursday."